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An antenna pattern correction technique, is presented that is based on an adaptive array algorithm. In the method, the antenna pattern of the antenna under test (AUT) is measured several times at different positions in the quiet-zone. The corrected antenna pattern is obtained by taking a weighted average of the measured patterns. An array synthesis algorithm is employed for obtaining the averaging weights at each rotation angle of the AUT. The weights are adapted specifically for a given AUT. The adaptive array correction technique is demonstrated in a hologram based compact antenna test range (CATR) at 310 GHz with both a synthetic antenna and a physical test antenna. For verification, the accuracy provided by the adaptive array correction technique is compared to that provided by uniform weighting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement accuracy of a compact antenna test range (CATR) is limited by the level of spurious signals. At millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths the spurious signals are caused by range reflections and deformations of the range collimating element. Several antenna pattern and range evaluation techniques that can be used to mitigate the effects of these nonidealities have been published. At submillimeter wavelengths these techniques are typically time consuming or they are not able to correct the antenna pattern close to the main beam. The frequency shift technique does not have these limitations in a hologram based CATR. In this paper, the applicability of the frequency shift technique is analytically studied for a hologram based CATR. The technique is verified by measurements. The accuracy provided by the frequency shift technique is compared to that of the antenna pattern comparison (APC) technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents monostatic reflectivity measurements of radar absorbing materials at 310 GHz in a phase-hologram-based compact range. The radar cross-section method was used and the backscattered reflection was measured with horizontal and vertical polarizations in plane-wave conditions. Transmission was also studied. The reflectivity was measured over an incidence angle of 0°-.45°. The reflectivity of Thomas Keating Terahertz RAM at normal incidence was found to be -56 dB-the smallest of the studied materials. The reflectivity of carpet material measured was also below -40 dB and it was found to be suitable for use as an absorber. The results are in line with those available from previous studies of reflectivity and complement them with new materials, frequency, and angle information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact radar cross section (RCS) test range based on a phase hologram has been developed for scale-model measurements. The phase hologram converts the feed-horn radiation to a plane wave needed for RCS determination. The measurements are performed at 310 GHz using continuous-wave operation. A monostatic configuration is realized using a dielectric slab as a directional coupler. The main advantage of a scale-model RCS range is that the dimensions of radar targets are scaled down in proportion to the wavelength. Therefore, RCS data of originally large objects can be measured indoors in a controlled environment. Test objects such as metal cylinders and simplified targets have been measured. The feasibility of the phase-hologram RCS range has been verified. The operation and measurement results of the monostatic measurement range are reported here. A comparison with simulated results is also included [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Manufacturing of large computer-generated submillimeter wave holograms with high pattern accuracy has been the main challenge in the development of hologram based compact antenna test ranges (CATRs). Illumination of the hologram with a shaped beam produced by a dual reflector feed system (DRFS) simplifies the hologram manufacturing by eliminating the narrow slots in the hologram pattern. In this paper, the design of a shaped dual reflector feed for a hologram CATR is described. The simulated and measured illumination field amplitude and phase at 310 GHz are presented and compared to the desired hologram illumination. The measured amplitude is within ±0.5 dB from the design objective in the most significant central region of the illuminating beam. Measurement results of the quiet-zone field of a demonstration CATR illuminated by the DRFS are presented and compared to the measured quiet-zone amplitude and phase of a hologram fed directly with a corrugated horn. The quiet-zone diameters of the both holograms are over 0.25 meters and the measured root mean squared (rms) amplitude and phase ripples are below ±0.4 dB and ±5°, respectively. Further improvements to the hologram CATR, such as greater tolerance to manufacturing errors, are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement accuracy of a compact antenna test range (CATR) depends on the level of spurious signals. To improve the measurement accuracy, several error compensation methods have been developed, but most of them are not feasible at submillimeter wavelengths. This paper introduces an error compensation technique for compact antenna test ranges, which is especially suitable at submillimeter wavelengths. The method is based on antenna pattern comparison (APC). In the original APC technique the antenna pattern is recorded several times at different positions of the quiet-zone field, and the corrected pattern is obtained by averaging the measured patterns. In the proposed method, the lightweight transmitter is moved instead of moving the heavy combination of the antenna under test (AUT) and the rotation stage. The feasibility of the method is studied and the method is tested with measurements in a hologram based compact antenna test range at 310 GHz. The accuracy provided by the proposed method is compared to the accuracy provided by the conventional APC. The accuracies provided by both methods are practically equal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]